When NBC acquired broadcast rights to Premier League soccer, arguably the most popular sports league on the planet (sorry NFL), they announced that they were “going all in.”

There’s nothing quite like putting your money where your mouth is. NBCUniversal put up about $250 million for a three-year deal, according to reports and now they are looking to tap into a segment of the America’s sports fans that possess passion but may be still considered negligible.

ESPN's got to be a bit happy. The worldwide leader aired the All Star Game's warm up show, The 2013 Chevrolet Home Run Derby and ESPN saw its ratings get a bump upward for the event:

Oakland Athletics’ outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was crowned the Derby champion after a thrilling performance – delivered a strong 5.0 overnight rating, according to Nielsen. This is up six percent compared to last year’s telecast, which delivered a 4.7. It also marks the highest-rated Home Run Derby since 2009. Based on the overnights, ESPN was the top-rated network across all of television in prime time on Monday.

From an ESPN news release: LeBron James will present the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts. Roberts, who is in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, was a high school basketball star in Mississippi and then went on to play four seasons for the Lady Lions basketball team at Southeastern Louisiana University, ranking among the team’s leaders for points scored, rebounds, field goals made and games played. Roberts has blazed a trail for women in broadcasting, but it is also her personal journey that has served as an inspiration to countless people as she has overcome life-threatening illnesses twice. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award will recognize the strength and courage Roberts has displayed throughout her life and career.

On Sunday's Outside the Lines on ESPN2 at 9 a.m., Tom Rinaldi will update the story of fromer Akronite Leroy Sutton, his friend Dartanyan Crockette and their mentor Lisa Fenn, a former ESPN producer. Read George Thomas' story in Saturday's Beacon Journal and on Ohio.com: